Chris Sanders’ “The Wild Robot” from Dreamworks Animation leads the feature competition of the 52nd Annie Awards for animation with 10 nominations, followed by Disney/Pixar’s “Inside Out 2” and Aardman and Netflix’s “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl,” with seven apiece; and Locksmith Animation and Netflix’s “That Christmas,” with six noms.
All four movies are nominated for best animated feature, alongside “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “Ultraman: Rising,” while noms for best independent animated feature went to “Chicken for Linda!,” “Flow” (Latvia’s international feature Oscar contender), “Kensuke’s Kingdom,” “Look Back,” “Mars Express” and “Memoir of a Snail.”
The rest of the categories combine studio and independent productions. For direction of an animated feature, ASIFA-Hollywood nominated Chiara Malta and Sébastien Laudenbach for “Chicken For Linda!”, Gints Zilbalodis for “Flow”, Chris Sanders for “The Wild Robot”, Wallace & Gromit creator Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham for “Vengeance Most Fowl,” and “That Christmas” for first-time feature director Simon Otto, who is best known as head of character animation on the “How To Train Your Dragon” trilogy. “Inside Out 2” helmer Kelsey Mann was snubbed in this category.
In writing, “Inside Out 2” scribes Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein were nominated alongside three independent movies: “Flow” (Zilbalodis and Matīss Kaža), which contains no dialog; “Kensuke’s Kingdom” (Frank Cottrell-Boyce); and “Memoir of a Snail” (Adam Elliot). Snubs in this category include “The Wild Robot,” written by Sanders, and “That Christmas,” from British writer/director/producer Richard Curtis (“Four Weddings and a Funeral,” “Love Actually”). Disney Animation’s “Moana 2” was passed over for best feature, directing and writing; it earned a total of four noms, including in the category for character animation.
“The Wild Robot” earned a pair of noms for voice acting in a feature: Lupita Nyong’o was nominated for her role as Roz and Kit Connor for the role of Brightbill. Noms in the category also include Maya Hawke, who played Anxiety in “Inside Out 2,” Brian Tyree Henry, who voiced D-16/Megatron in “Transformers One,” and Mélinée Leclerc, who voiced Linda in “Chicken for Linda!”.
Categories include music in a feature, whose noms include Pharrell Williams and Michael Andrews for “Piece by Piece;” John Powell, Ed Sheeran and Johnny McDaid for “That Christmas;” Kris Bowers for “The Wild Robot;” Lorne Balfe and Julian Nott for “Vengeance Most Fowl;” and Stuart Hancock for “Kensuke’s Kingdom.”
Oscar shortlisted animated shorts that earned Annie noms include “Beautiful Men,” “In the Shadow of the Cypress,” “Wander to Wonder” and “Yuck!”. A trio of VFX shortlisted movies are nominated for the Annie Award for character animation in a live action production, including “Better Man,” “Gladiator II” and “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.”
The Annie’s TV competition is led by Riot Games and Netflix’s “Arcane,” with seven nominations, followed by Pixar’s “Inside Out”-inspired “Dream Productions,” with four noms.
During the 52nd Annie Awards, which will be held Feb. 8 at UCLA’s Royce Hall, several juried awards will also be presented. Aaron Blaise, Eunice Macaulay and Normand Roger will be honored with Winsor McCay Awards for career achievement. Women in Animation will be recognized with the June Foray Award for charitable impact; Alberto Menache, with the Ub Iwerks Award for technical innovation; and the “original directors” of Walt Disney’s animated films, with a Special Achievement Award.
The list of nominees follows:
BEST FEATURE
Inside Out 2, Pixar Animation Studios
Kung Fu Panda 4, DreamWorks Animation
That Christmas, Locksmith Animation for Netflix
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation
Ultraman: Rising, Netflix Presents in association with Tsuburaya Productions
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Aardman and Netflix
BEST FEATURE-INDEPENDENT
Chicken for Linda!, Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinéma, Distributed by GKIDS
Flow, Sacrebleu Productions, Take Five, Dream Well Studio
Kensuke’s Kingdom, Paramount Pictures
Look Back, Studio Durian Distributed by GKIDS
Mars Express, Everybody on Deck, Je Suis Bien Content Distributed by GKIDS
Memoir of a Snail, Snails Pace Films / Arenamedia
BEST SPECIAL PRODUCTION
A Bear Named Wojtek, The Illuminated Film Company and Filmograf
Mog’s Christmas, Lupus Films
Orion and the Dark, DreamWorks Animation
Tabby McTat, Magic Light Pictures
Yuck!, Ikki Films & Iliade et Films
BEST SHORT SUBJECT
Beautiful Men, Animal Tank, Miyu Productions & Ka-Ching Cartoons
In the Shadow of the Cypress, Barfak Animation Studio
Ruthless Blade, IDEOMOTOR Culture Media Co., Ltd.
The Swineherd, Fleng Entertainment and Tumblehead Productions
Wander to Wonder, Circe Films, Kaap Holland Film, Les Productions de Milou, Beast Animation, Blink Industries & Pictanovo
BEST SPONSORED
feelslikeimfallinginlove, Blinkink
Fuzzy Feelings, Passion Pictures Hungry Man
Moonlit Bamboo Forest, Passion Paris Production, HoYoFair
Natlan Impressions Trailer – “Blaze to Natlan”, BUCK
Welcome to the City of Love, Nexus Studios
BEST TV/MEDIA – PRESCHOOL
lDisney Jr.’s Ariel, Episode: Crystal Cavern Caper – Wild Canary, Disney Branded Television
Gabby’s Dollhouse, Episode: Pandy’s Bad Day, DreamWorks Animation
Jessica’s Big Little World Episode: Jessica’s Picnic, Cartoon Network Studios
The Tiny Chef Show, Episode: Tiny Chef’s Spooky Stump Spectacular, Imagine Entertainment, Tiny Chef Productions and Nickelodeon Productions
Wonder Pets: In the City, Episode: Save Tate?. A Nickelodeon Production in association with Apple
BEST TV/MEDIA – CHILDREN
GREMLINS: THE WILD BATCH, Episode: Never Use Double Negatives, Warner Bros. Animation
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Episode: Batten Down the Hatches – DreamWorks Animation
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Episode: The Molecular Level, Flying Bark Productions, Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television
Primos, Episode: Summer of Tater Luna, Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television
WondLa, Episode: Ruins, Skydance Animation in association with Apple
BEST TV/MEDIA – MATURE
Bob’s Burgers, Episode: They Slug Horses, Don’t They? – 20th Television Animation
Solar Opposites. Episode: The What If?! Device, 20th Television Animation
South Park, Episode: The End of Obesity, MTV Entertainment Studios
The Great North, Episode: Aunt Misbehavin’ Adventure, 20th Television Animation
The Second Best Hospital in the Galaxy, Episode: The Land of Sex and Death, Amazon MGM Studios, Titmouse Studios
BEST TV/MEDIA – LIMITED SERIES
Dream Productions, Episode: A Night to Remember, Pixar Animation Studios
Iwájú, Episode: Tola, Walt Disney Animation Studios
Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy, Episode: Part Three, Lucasfilm Ltd.
Moon Girl’s Lab, Episode: Moon Girl Saves the Moon, Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television
My Adventures with Superman, Episode: Pierce the Heavens, Superman!, Warner Bros. Animation
BEST STUDENT FILM
Adiós, Student Director: José Prats, Student Producer: Bernardo Angeletti, School: National Film and Television School
El Ombligo de la Luna olaj, Student Directors: Sara António, Julia Grupińska, Bokang Koatja, Tian Westraad, Ezequiel Garibay, School: Gobelins
Pear Garden, Student Director/Producer: Shadab Shayegan, School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH, Animationsinstitut
Polliwog, Student Director: Julia Skala, Student Producer: Max Pollmann, School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH, Animationsinstitut
Turmspringer, Student Director: Oscar Bittner, Student Producer: Andra Berila, School: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg GmbH, Animationsinstitut
BEST FX – TV/MEDIA
Arcane. Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails, Production Company: A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, FX Production Company: Fortiche Studio, Guillaume Degroote, Aurélien Ressencourt, Adam Bachiri, Guillaume Zaouche, Jérôme Dupré
Dream Productions, Episode: A Night to Remember, Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios. FX Production Company: Pixar Animation Studios, Gary Bruins, Jongwon Pak, Arturo Aguilar, Alan Browning, Alen Lai
Secret Level, Episode: Warhammer 40,000: And They Shall Know No Fear, Production Company: Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studio Inc., FX Production Company: Blur Studio, Josh Schwartz, Joe Coleman, Michael Huang, Guilherme Casagrandi, Raul Rodrigues
Secret Level, Episode: Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen’s Cradle, Production Company: Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studio, FX Production Company: Blur Studio, Arthur Loiseau, Tom O’Bready, Esteban Genre, Alexandre Lerouge, Guillaume Grelier
Secret Level. Episode: Crossfire: Good Conflict, Production Company: Amazon MGM Studios, Blur Studio, FX Production Company: Blur Studio, Kamil Murzyn, Rafał Rumiński, Jarosław Armata, Michał Śledź, Michał Firek
BEST FX – FEATURE
Kung Fu Panda 4, Production Company: DreamWorks Animation, FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation, Zachary Glynn, Alex Timchenko, Kiem Ching Ong, Yorie Kaela Kumalasari, Jinguang Huang
Moana 2, Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios, FX Production Company: Walt Disney Animation Studios, Santiago Robles, Marc Bryant, Deborah Carlson, Jake Rice, Ian J. Coony
The Wild Robot, Production Company: DreamWorks Animation, FX Production Company: DreamWorks Animation, Derek Cheung, Michael Losure, David Chow, Nyoung Kim, Steve Avoujageli
Ultraman: Rising, Production Company: Netflix Animation,FX Production Company: Industrial Light & Magic, Goncalo Cabaca, Vishal Patel, Zheng Yong Oh, Nicholas Yoon Joo Kuang, Pei- Zhi Huang
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Production Company: Aardman and Netflix, FX Production Company: Aardman Production, Howard Jones, Rich Spence, Deborah Jane Price, Jon Biggins, Kirstie Deane
BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – TV/MEDIA
Arcane, Episodes: Killing Is A Cycle, Heavy Is the Crown, Finally Got the Name Right, The Message Hidden Within the Pattern, The Dirt Under Your Nails, Pretend Like It’s the First Time, Blisters and Bedrock, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, Tom Gouill
Dream Productions, Episodes: The Dream Team, Out of Body, Romance!, Pixar Animation Studios, Travis Hathaway
In the Know, Episodes: Yogurt Week, Thinksgiving, Peacock Original in association with Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, Bandera, ShadowMachine, Jeff Riley
Star Trek: Lower Decks, Episodes: Various, CBS’s Eye Animation Productions, Titmouse; Secret Hideout; and Roddenberry Entertainment, Raymond Dunster
The Patrick Star Show, Episode: Something Stupid This Way Comes, Screen Novelties / Nickelodeon Animation Studios, Colin Lepper
BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – FEATURE
Inside Out 2, Pixar Animation Studios, Aviv Mano
Kung Fu Panda 4, DreamWorks Animation, Patrick Guisiano
Moana 2, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Brian Scott
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Fabio Lignini
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Aardman and Netflix, Carmen Bromfield Mason
BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – LIVE ACTION
Better Man, Production Company: Footloose Productions, VicScreen, Partizan, Facing East Entertainment, Rocket Science, Lost Bandits. FX Production Company: Wētā FX, Shaun Freeman, Luisma Lavin Peredo, Carlos Lin, Seoungseok Charlie Kim, Kaori Miyazawa
Gladiator II, Production Company: Paramount, FX Production Company: Framestore LTD, Kyle Dunlevy, Philipp Winterstein, Gil Daniel, Michael Elder, Julien Bagory
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Production Company: Legendary Entertainment, FX Production Company: Wētā FX, Ludovic Chailloleau, Jonathan Paquin, Craig Penn, Florian Fernandez, Marco Barbati
House of the Dragon, Season 2, Production Company: Warner Bros, FX Production Company: Wētā FX, Jason Snyman, Manjoe Chan, Chloe McLean, Cedric Enriquez Canlas, Vincent Lee
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Production Company: 20th Century Studios. FX Production Company: Wētā FX, Christian Kickenweitz, Aidan Martin, Allison Orr, Radiya Alam, Howard Sly
BEST CHARACTER ANIMATION – VIDEO GAME
#BLUD, Exit 73 Games, Chris Burns, Bob Fox
Asgard’s Wrath 2, Sanzaru Games, Sanzaru Games Animation Team
Diesel Legacy, Maximum Entertainment, Maximum Entertainment
Neva, Nomada Studio, Nomada Studio Animation Team
Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Ninja Theory, Ninja Theory
BEST CHARACTER DESIGN – TV/MEDIA
Dream Productions, Episode: A Night to Remember, Pixar Animation Studios, Grant Alexander
Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld Episode: Pilot, A Netflix Series, Kal Athannassov
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Episode: The Molecular Level, Disney Television Animation, Cinema Gypsy Productions, Jose Lopez
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Episode: Bishop Makes Her Move!, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Picture, Rustam Hasanov
X-Men ’97, Episode: Mutant Liberation Begins – Marvel Studios, Amelia Vidal
BEST CHARACTER DESIGN – FEATURE
Inside Out 2, Pixar Animation Studios, Deanna Marsigliese
Scarygirl, Highly Spirited and Like A Photon Creative, Nathan Jurevicius
Spellbound, Netflix Presents / Skydance Animation Presents a Skydance Animation Film, Guillermo Ramíre
That Christmas, Locksmith Animation for Netflix, Uwe Heidschötter
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Genevieve Tsai
BEST DIRECTION – TV/MEDIA
Arcane, Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, Arnaud Delord, Pascal Charrue, Bart Maunoury
Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation. Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television, Anna O’Brian
Bob’s Burgers. Episode: They Slug Horses, Don’t They? – 20th Television Animation, Bernard Derriman
Tabby McTat Television Movie, Magic Light Pictures, Jac Hamman, Sarah Scrimgeour
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: The Pearl, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures, Alan Wan, Colin Heck
BEST DIRECTION – FEATURE
Chicken for Linda!, Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinéma / Distributed by GKIDS, Chiara Malta, Sébastien Laudenbach
Flow, Take Five, Sacrebleu Productions, Dream Well Studio, Gints Zilbalodis
That Christmas, Locksmith Animation for Netflix, Simon Otto
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Chris Sanders
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Aardman and Netflix, Nick Park, Merlin Crossingham
BEST MUSIC – TV/MEDIA
Arcane. Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, Ryan Jillian Santiago, Alexander Seaver, Simon Wilcox
Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation Television Movie, Disney Television Animation, Disney Branded Television, Joachim Horsley
Hazbin Hotel, Episode: Masquerade, Amazon MGM Studios, A24, Bento Box Entertainment, Sam Haft, Andrew Underberg
Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld Episode: Lock-In, A Netflix Series, Brian H. Kim
WondLa, Episode: Captive, Skydance Animation in association with Apple. Joy Ngiaw
BEST MUSIC – FEATURE
Kensuke’s Kingdom, Lupus Films, Stuart Hancock
Piece by Piece. i am OTHER, TREMOLO in association with The LEGO Group, Pure Imagination Studios and Tongal, Pharrell Williams, Michael Andrews
That Christmas, Locksmith Animation for Netflix, John Powell, Ed Sheeran, Johnny McDaid
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Kris Bowers
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Aardman and Netflix, Lorne Balfe, Julian Nott
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – TV/MEDIA
Arcane, Episode: The Dirt Under Your Nails, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, Arnaud-Loris Baudry, Julien Georgel, Faustine Dumontier, Charlotte O’Neil
Dream Productions, Episode: The Dream Team, Pixar Animation Studios, Bert Berry, Josh Holtsclaw
Orion and the Dark, DreamWorks Animation, Timothy Lamb, Christine Bian
Silly Sundays, Episode: Stringy Soup, Cartoon Saloon,, Fran Bravo, Rosa Ballester Cabo
WondLa, Episode: Bargain, Skydance Animation in association with Apple, Andy Harkness
BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN – FEATURE
Inside Out 2, Pixar Animation Studios, Jason Deamer, Josh West, Keiko Murayama, Bill Zahn, Laura Meyer
That Christmas, Locksmith Animation for Netflix, Justin Hutchinson-Chatburn, Mike Redman
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Raymond Zibach, Ritchie Sacilioc
Ultraman: Rising, Netflix Presents in association with Tsuburaya Productions, The Ultraman: Rising Production Design Team
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Aardman and Netflix, Matt Perry, Darren Dubicki, Richard Edmunds, Matt Sanders, Gavin Lines
BEST STORYBOARDING – TV/MEDIA
Arcane, Episode: Killing is a Cycle, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, Joséphine Meis
Invincible Fight Girl, Episode: The Way of The World, Cartoon Network Studios, Gladyfaith Abcede, Miki Brewster, Kaela Lash, Sheldon Vella
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Episode: That Night, DreamWorks Animation, Aevery Huens
Snoopy Presents: Welcome Home, Franklin, WildBrain Studios in association with Apple, David Lux
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: The Pearl, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures, Laura Gille, Sebrina Gao, Kevin Molina-Ortiz
BEST STORYBOARDING – FEATURE
Despicable Me 4, Illumination, Habib Louati
Moana 2, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Ryan Green
Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie, Nickelodeon Animation, Piero Piluso
Spellbound, Netflix Presents / Skydance Animation Presents a Skydance Animation Film, Alex Relloso Horna, Carlos Zapater Oliva
That Christmas, Locksmith Animation for Netflix, Ashley Boddy, Lorenzo Fresta, Helen Schroeder
BEST VOICE ACTING – TV/MEDIA
Bob’s Burgers, Episode: The Right Tough Stuff, 20th Television Animation, John Roberts (Character: Linda Belcher)
Bob’s Burgers, Episode: They Slug Horses, Don’t They?, 20th Television Animation, Kristen Schaal (Character: Louise Belcher)
Dream Productions Episode: Out of Body, Pixar Animation Studios, Paula Pell (Character: Paula)
Hazbin Hotel, Episode: Dad Beat Dad, Amazon MGM Studios, A24, Bento Box Entertainment, Jeremy Jordan (Character: Lucifer)
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: Splinter and April Fight a Goldfish, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures, Ayo Edebiri (Character: April O’Neil)
BEST VOICE ACTING – FEATURE
Chicken for Linda!, Dolce Vita Films, Miyu Productions, Palosanto Films, France 3 Cinéma / Distributed by GKIDS, Mélinée Leclerc (Character: Linda)
Inside Out 2, Pixar Animation Studios, Maya Hawke (Character: Anxiety)
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Lupita Nyong’o (Character: Roz)
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Kit Connor (Character: Brightbill)
Transformers One, Paramount Animation, Brian Tyree Henry (Character: D-16 / Megatron)
BEST WRITING – TV/MEDIA
Craig of the Creek, Episode: Whose Dimension Is It Anyway?, Cartoon Network Studios, Harron Atkins, Lorraine DeGraffenreidt, Pearl Low, Richie Pope
Jessica’s Big Little World, Episode: Jessica’s Picnic, Cartoon Network Studios, Austin Faber, Gabriel Franklin, Shawneé Gibbs, Shawnelle Gibbs, Ashleigh Hairston
Orion and the Dark, DreamWorks Animation, Charlie Kaufman
The Simpsons, Episode: Bart’s Birthday, A Gracie Films Production in Association with 20th Television Animation, Jessica Conrad
Yuck!, Ikki Films & Iliade et Films, Loïc Espuche
BEST WRITING – FEATURE
Flow, Take Five, Sacrebleu Productions, Dream Well Studio, Gints Zilbalodis, Matīss Kaža
Inside Out 2, Pixar Animation Studios, Meg LeFauve, Dave Holstein
Kensuke’s Kingdom, Paramount Pictures, Frank Cottrell-Boyce
Memoir of a Snail, Snails Pace Films / Arenamedia, Adam Elliot
BEST EDITORIAL – TV/MEDIA
Arcane, Episode: Pretend Like It’s the First Time, A Riot Games and Fortiche Production for Netflix, Nazim Meslem, Gilad Carmel, Roberto Fernandez
Creature Commandos, Episode: Cheers to the Tin Man, Warner Bros. Animation and DC Studios, Annie De Brock
Jurassic World: Chaos Theory, Episode: Batten Down the Hatches, DreamWorks Animation, Ben Choo, Rich Liverance, Eric Hendricks, Anna Adams, Ian Hurley
Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Episode: The Molecular Level, Disney Television Animation, Cinema Gypsy Productions, Sandra Powers, Phil Lomboy, Ryan Burkhard, Neil Wilson III, Gabriel Gelbrecht
Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Episode: The Pearl, Nickelodeon Animation Studios and Point / Grey Pictures, Caleb Yoder
BEST EDITORIAL – FEATURE
Inside Out 2, Pixar Animation Studios, Maurissa Horwitz, David Suther, Fiona Toth, Jonathan Vargo
Moana 2, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Jeremy Milton, Michael Louis Hill
The Wild Robot, DreamWorks Animation, Mary Blee, Collin Erker, Orlando Duenas, Lucie Lyon, Brian Parker
Ultraman: Rising, Netflix Presents in association with Tsuburaya Productions, Bret Marnell, ACE, William Max Steinberg, Nik Siefke, Ryan Sommer, Kaye Speare
Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, Aardman and Netflix, Dan Hembery
